NITI Aayog–JICA Phase II pact for SDG push in Aspirational Districts and Blocks

Key facts

• NITI Aayog and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed the Record of Discussions for Phase II of the Japan–India Cooperative Actions towards Sustainable Development Goals.
• The agreement was signed in the presence of Rohit Kumar, Additional Secretary and Mission Director of the Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programme at NITI Aayog, and Takeuchi Takuro, Chief Representative, JICA India.
• Phase II focuses on institutional capacity-building and improving governance systems at district and block levels under the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP).
• The initiative covers six themes: global partnership, health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion and skill development, and basic infrastructure.
• Key activities include capacity-building exchanges, Japan–India knowledge forums, identification and dissemination of best practices, and targeted support to selected Aspirational Districts and Blocks.